kitio.aiQwen Code vs GPT CLI
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Qwen Code starts at Free and GPT CLI starts at Free. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
At a glance
Best for
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- Terminal agent
- Long-context support
- OpenAI-compatible providers
- Subagents
- Apache 2.0 license
- AI commit messages from Git diffs
- Natural language to shell commands
- Translate plugin
- Custom plugin workflows
- npm install
| Feature | Qwen Code | GPT CLI |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Open-source terminal coding agent tuned for Qwen models | ChatGPT command-line tool with commit messages and shell commands |
| Category | Coding | Coding |
| Pricing model | Free | Free |
| Starting price | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes, fully free | Yes, fully free |
| Made by | Alibaba Qwen Team | Johann Lai |
| Based in | China | – |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
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Pricing compared
Qwen Code starts at Free and GPT CLI starts at Free. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
Prices in USD, checked Oct 28, 2026 or later. Plans change often, so confirm on each tool's site before you buy.
Pros and cons
Qwen Code
- Free and open source
- Works with cheap open models
- Familiar Gemini CLI workflow
- No longer has a free hosted tier
- Best results need Qwen models
GPT CLI
- Free and open source
- Asks before running generated commands
- Plugin system for your own tools
- Needs your own OpenAI API key
- Small project with limited documentation
- Requires Node.js and npm
Which one should you choose?
Choose Qwen Code if you want:
- Free and open source
- Works with cheap open models
- Familiar Gemini CLI workflow
Watch out: no longer has a free hosted tier.
Choose GPT CLI if you want:
- Free and open source
- Asks before running generated commands
- Plugin system for your own tools
Watch out: needs your own openai api key.
Qwen Code vs GPT CLI FAQ
What is the difference between Qwen Code and GPT CLI?
Qwen Code: Open-source terminal coding agent tuned for Qwen models. GPT CLI: ChatGPT command-line tool with commit messages and shell commands. Both are coding tools.
Is Qwen Code or GPT CLI cheaper?
Qwen Code starts at Free and GPT CLI starts at Free. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
Do Qwen Code and GPT CLI have free plans?
Qwen Code: Yes, fully free. GPT CLI: Yes, fully free.
Who makes Qwen Code?
Qwen Code is made by Alibaba Qwen Team, based in China.
Who makes GPT CLI?
GPT CLI is made by Johann Lai.
Which should I choose, Qwen Code or GPT CLI?
Choose Qwen Code if you value free and open source and works with cheap open models. Choose GPT CLI if you value free and open source and asks before running generated commands.